SubSea Circuit Breaker

Abstract

A subsea circuit breaker includes a vacuum interrupter; a pushrod; an actuator; and a housing; wherein the vacuum interrupter is located within the housing; wherein the pushrod is located within the housing; wherein the actuator is located within the housing; wherein the actuator is configured to actuate the pushrod; wherein the pushrod is configured when actuated to move a moveable contact of the vacuum interrupter with respect to a fixed contact of the vacuum interrupter; and wherein the circuit breaker is configured to operate at a subsea water pressure or under higher pressure than atmospheric gas pressure condition in a switchgear.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A subsea circuit breaker, comprising:
 a vacuum interrupter;   a pushrod;   an actuator; and   a housing;   wherein the vacuum interrupter is located within the housing;   wherein the pushrod is located within the housing;   wherein the actuator is located within the housing;   wherein the actuator is configured to actuate the pushrod;   wherein the pushrod is configured when actuated to move a moveable contact of the vacuum interrupter with respect to a fixed contact of the vacuum interrupter; and   wherein the circuit breaker is configured to operate at a subsea water pressure.   
     
     
         2 . The subsea circuit breaker according to  claim 1 , wherein the circuit breaker is configured to operate at the subsea water pressure. 
     
     
         3 . The subsea circuit breaker according to  claim 1 , wherein the circuit breaker is configured to operate at voltages above 72 kV. 
     
     
         4 . The subsea circuit breaker according to  claim 1 , wherein the circuit breaker is configured to operate at currents of 1250A and above. 
     
     
         5 . The subsea circuit breaker according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing is configured to withstand the subsea water pressure. 
     
     
         6 . The subsea circuit breaker according to  claim 1 , wherein the circuit breaker comprises an enclosure, wherein the housing is located within the enclosure, and wherein a dielectric fluid is located between an outer surface of the housing and an inner surface of the enclosure. 
     
     
         7 . The subsea circuit breaker according to  claim 6 , wherein the enclosure is configured to withstand the subsea water pressure. 
     
     
         8 . The subsea circuit breaker according to  claim 1 , wherein the circuit breaker comprises a second vacuum interrupter in series with the first vacuum interrupter, wherein the circuit breaker comprises a second pushrod, and wherein the second pushrod is configured when actuated to move a moveable contact of the second vacuum interrupter with respect to a fixed contact of the second vacuum interrupter. 
     
     
         9 . The subsea circuit breaker according to  claim 8 , wherein the second vacuum interrupter is located within the housing, wherein the second pushrod is located within the housing, and wherein the actuator is configured to actuate the second pushrod. 
     
     
         10 . The subsea circuit breaker according to  claim 8 , wherein the second vacuum interrupter is located within the housing, wherein the second pushrod is located within the housing, wherein the circuit breaker comprises a second actuator, wherein the second actuator is located within the housing, and wherein the second actuator is configured to actuate the second pushrod. 
     
     
         11 . The subsea circuit breaker according to  claim 8 , wherein the circuit breaker comprises a second housing, wherein the circuit breaker comprises a second actuator, wherein the second vacuum interrupter is located within the second housing, wherein the second pushrod is located within the second housing, wherein the second actuator is located within the second housing, and wherein the second actuator is configured to actuate the second pushrod. 
     
     
         12 . The subsea circuit breaker according to  claim 11 , wherein the second housing is configured to withstand the subsea water pressure. 
     
     
         13 . The subsea circuit breaker according to  claim 12 , wherein the second housing is located within the enclosure, and wherein the dielectric fluid is located between an outer surface of the second housing and an inner surface of the enclosure. 
     
     
         14 . A subsea circuit breaker system, comprising:
 a vacuum interrupter for a first phase, a vacuum interrupter for a second phase, and a vacuum interrupter for a third phase;   a pushrod for the first phase, a pushrod for the second phase, and a pushrod for the third phase;   an actuator for the first phase, an actuator for the second phase, and an actuator for the third phase; and   a housing for a first phase, a housing for a second phase, and a housing for a third phase;   wherein the vacuum interrupter for the first phase, the pushrod for the first phase, and the actuator for the first phase are located within the housing for the first phase;   wherein the vacuum interrupter for the second phase, the pushrod for the second phase, and the actuator for the second phase are located within the housing for the second phase;   wherein the vacuum interrupter for the third phase, the pushrod for the third phase, and the actuator for the third phase are located within the housing for the third phase;   wherein the actuator for the first phase is configured to actuate the pushrod for the first phase, the actuator for the second phase is configured to actuate the pushrod for the second phase, the actuator for the third phase is configured to actuate the pushrod for the third phase;   wherein the pushrod for the first phase is configured when actuated to move a moveable contact of the vacuum interrupter for the first phase with respect to a fixed contact of the vacuum interrupter for the first phase, the pushrod for the second phase is configured when actuated to move a moveable contact of the vacuum interrupter for the second phase with respect to a fixed contact of the vacuum interrupter for the second phase, and the pushrod for the third phase is configured when actuated to move a moveable contact of the vacuum interrupter for the third phase with respect to a fixed contact of the vacuum interrupter for the third phase; and   wherein the circuit breaker system is configured to operate at a subsea water pressure.   
     
     
         15 . A circuit breaker, comprising:
 a vacuum interrupter;   a pushrod;   an actuator; and   a housing;   wherein the vacuum interrupter is located within the housing;   wherein the pushrod is located within the housing;   wherein the actuator is located within the housing;   wherein the actuator is configured to actuate the pushrod;   wherein the pushrod is configured when actuated to move a moveable contact of the vacuum interrupter with respect to a fixed contact of the vacuum interrupter; and   wherein the circuit breaker is configured to operate at a pressure above atmospheric pressure in a switchgear.